Monitoring the safety of vaccines

In the UK, the safety of vaccines is routinely monitored through the Yellow Card Scheme by the MHRA and the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Levels of disease and vaccine uptake are recorded by the Health Protection Agency, to measure the impact of vaccines on disease.

Most reactions reported through the Yellow Card Scheme have been minor reactions such as rashes, fever, vomiting, and redness and swelling where the injection was given.